Manny Pacquiao’s comeback to boxing ended in a somewhat underwhelming manner. The iconic boxer, aged 46, concluded his match against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday with a majority draw during the PBC main event held at Las Vegas. This result allows Barrios to retain his title, while Pacquiao will have to rebuild his path to make further history. Had he won, Pacquiao would have been the first to clinch a world title for the fourth decade. His performance, his first since 2021, was decent—he avoided serious injury or trouble, though his age noticeably slowed him. Despite this, Pacquiao has expressed his desire to keep fighting, leaving fans curious about his future.
On the same card, Sebastian Fundora confirmed his worthiness as WBC junior middleweight champion by defeating Tim Tszyu in their rematch. Fundora, who initially won the title with a split decision over Tszyu in March 2024, left no doubt this time, dominating Tszyu including a knockdown in the first round. Additional results included Isaac Cruz’s unanimous decision over Omar Salcido, Brandon Figueroa’s unanimous decision win against Joet Gonzalez, David Benavidez prevailing over Kanda Kyoto Province, Marksayo beating Jorge Mata, and Gary Allen Russell Jr. securing a TKO win against Hugo Castaneda after ten rounds.
CBS Sports covered the event comprehensively, offering the latest news, in-depth features, and betting insights throughout Fight Week.
Pacquiao vs. Barrios Fight Card Results:
- Mario Barrios (c) vs. Manny Pacquiao: majority draw (115-113 Barrios, 114-114, 114-114)
- Sebastian Fundora (c) def. Tim Tszyu via 7th round TKO (corner stoppage)
- Isaac Cruz def. Omar Salcido via unanimous decision (99-89, 99-89, 100-88)
- Brandon Figueroa def. Joet Gonzalez via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 116-112)
- David Benavidez def. Kanda Kyoto Province via majority decision (98-92, 97-93, 95-95)
- Marksayo def. Jorge Mata via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92)
- Gary Allen Russell Jr. def. Hugo Castaneda via 10th round TKO
Fan Take:
This fight marks a significant moment in boxing as it could be the final chapter in Pacquiao’s legendary career, showcasing the challenges aging fighters face at the highest levels. For fight fans and the sport alike, it underscores the relentless competition in boxing and highlights rising stars like Fundora, signaling an exciting new era ahead.
